Handcrafted black cast iron trivet (Nabeshiki) designed and made by Hisanori Masuda (b. 1949). Masuda established the Cushin Kobo studio in 1997 to create contemporary functional kitchen utensils using the traditional craft of Japanese cast ironwork. The trivet is used to protect surfaces from hot kettles and teapots. The iron is subject to various processes to prevent rusting.